Daily Archives: June 30, 2011

Despite Ron Paul's claims, no one is starving in Gaza. There is no lack of electricity or running water, and Gaza City has a luxury shopping mall.

The feud between Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is continuing, and the new flash point is the Gaza Strip. A new flotilla of large ships will arrive soon and Perry says it is an “unacceptable provocation,” while Paul has always claimed Israel’s Gaza blockade is an act of war. He described the last flotilla of nine ships as breaking the “siege” of Gaza.
Paul has criticized the Governor as an “establishment candidate” and for being “identified with the Bush administration and very much the status quo.” Bush and Perry were gubernatorial running makes in 1998. In 2007, Paul said Perry should be investigated for a criminal violation of the Logan Act when he attended the Bilderberg Conference. That same year Paul said Perry’s attendance was “A sign that he’s involved in the international conspiracy.”
In 2008, Paul endorsed Perry’s GOP primary opponent, Debra Medina, who was linked to the 9/11 Truth movement which believes the U.S. government had advance knowledge of the attack. During an interview with Glenn Beck, Medina would not deny she was a 9/11 Truther.
In his endorsement letter Paul said: “I have known Debra for over 10 years and she been a key supporter and member of my campaign team. . . I asked Debra to serve on the board of directors of my national grassroots action group, Campaign for Liberty.”
Perry is the complete opposite of Ron Paul and says the Gaza flotilla is a propaganda ploy. As the Red Cross has repeatedly confirmed, there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel’s actions are in accordance with its inherent right to self-defense, and it is foolish to legitimize Hamas.
Every week about 10,000 tons of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are sent by Israel to Gaza. Ron Paul says Israel is violating “Palestinian waters,” but they do not exist because Palestine is not a country. Hamas won the last election in Gaza and they refuse to recognize Israel.What is Hamas?
Hamas will not renounce violence and they have repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction. A suicide bomber who attacked an Israeli pizzeria crowded with children was praised by Hamas. According to the Jerusalem Post:

Hamas is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement. It is a radical movement considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. Hamas leaders condemned America for killing Osama bin Laden, and a founding principle of the Hamas charter calls for Jihad, a holy war on behalf of Islam.
Hamas has been responsible for more than a hundred suicide attacks, and has fired more than 10,000 rockets and missiles into towns and villages in Israel. The international community estimates that Hamas receives $20 million to $30 million in funding from Iran, a tyrannical regime that repeatedly denies its citizens basic human rights and kills any persons who question its principles.

Ron Paul’s Defense of Hamas
Congressman Paul says Hamas is an elected government so Israel should not be blocking the delivery of weapons to Gaza. Once again, an estimated 10,000 Katusha rockets from Gaza have been launched at Israel since their voluntary withdrawal six years ago. Rep. Paul has never described these attacks as an act of war.
In both of the presidential debates this year, the lawmaker has said he wants a “non-interventionist foreign policy.” He often votes alone and will not join his colleagues in condemning genocide, ethnic cleansing, rape camps and numerous other human rights abuses anywhere in the world. He justifies his actions by saying we should not tell other countries what to do, but he always tells Israel what to do and never fails to repeat Hamas and Hezbollah propaganda.What Ron Paul Does Not Say

Israel has always acted in accordance with international maritime law. They are in a state of armed conflict with Hamas. In such cases blockades are permissible under international law so long as humanitarian goods are not prevented from reaching the population. Boarding a vessel is permissible if the ship is bound for a “belligerent” territory.

The organizers of the flotilla are affiliated with an officially designated terrorist organization. They have said suicide attacks against Israeli citizens are religiously sanctioned.

Gaza shipments do not have to come through Israel. They are allowed to unload their cargo of humanitarian goods at the Egyptian port of El-Arish. The supplies are then transferred on land to Gaza after being checked.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Gaza’s economy expanded by 15.2% last year.

Hamas strictly limits freedom of the press and religious freedom. Christians do not have the same freedom as Muslims, and any political assemblies must be approved in advance. Women are denied basic human rights.

Should Israel comply with international law and the values of the international community? Yes. Does it? Yes, and like every nation is has a right to self-defense.